Identify the function of Nitrosomonas bacterium

convert ammonia into Nitrogen Dioxide

adds a third oxygen atom to create nitrate

convert ammonia into Nitrogen Dioxide

break down amino and nucleic acids

The Nitrogen Cycle Quiz

Create a review game for 9th grade biology students using the following topics Levels of Organization in an ecosystem- population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere Abiotic and Biotic Factors Differences between Food chains and food webs Trophic Levels Producers vs Consumers, Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs Effects of Greenhouse gases and their effects on global systems. Biome examples Photosynthesis vs cellular respiration Types of Consumers Ecological Pyramids 10% rule Cycles of Matter/ Nutrient Cycles- Water Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Phosphorus Cycle (note on the diagrams… the bigger the arrow, the larger amount of matter that moves through the cycle from that point to the next. Macromolecules- Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids Nitrogen fixation Denitrification Eutrophication The usable form on nitrogen for plants is nitrate Population density and distribution-random, dispersed and clumped Birth rate and death rate Survivorship curves- Type I, II, and III Density dependent factors Density independent factors Exponential growth- J curve = unlimited resources, no limiting factors Logistical Growth-S curve= limiting factors, carrying capacity Symbiotic Relationships- Competition, predation, Herbivory, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism What is an invasive species? Why might countries limit certain species to coming into a new country or area? What is mycorrhizal? Succession- Primary vs Secondary Pioneer Species Climax community Biodiversity Climate change

Weathering describes the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the surface of the Earth. Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering. Once a rock has been broken down, a process called erosion transports the bits of rock and mineral away. No rock on Earth is hard enough to resist the forces of weathering and erosion. Together, these processes carved landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, in the U.S. state of Arizona. This massive canyon is 446 kilometers (277 miles) long, as much as 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide, and 1,600 meters (1 mile) deep. Weathering and erosion constantly change the rocky landscape of Earth. Weathering wears away exposed surfaces over time. The length of exposure often contributes to how vulnerable a rock is to weathering. Rocks, such as lavas, that are quickly buried beneath other rocks are less vulnerable to weathering and erosion than rocks that are exposed to agents such as wind and water, As it smoothes rough, sharp rock surfaces, weathering is often the first step in the production of soils. Tiny bits of weathered minerals mix with plants, animal remains, fungi, bacteria, and other organisms. A single type of weathered rock often produces infertile soil, while weathered materials from a collection of rocks is richer in mineral diversity and contributes to more fertile soil. Soils types associated with a mixture of weathered rock include glacial till, loess, and alluvial sediments. Weathering is often divided into the processes of mechanical weathering and chemical weathering. Biological weathering, in whichliving or once-living organisms contribute to weathering, can be a part of both processes. Mechanical Weathering Mechanical weathering, also called physical weathering and disaggregation, causes rocks to crumble. Water, in either liquid or solid form, is often a key agent of mechanical weathering. For instance, liquid water can seep into cracks and crevices in rock. If temperatures drop low enough, the water will freeze. When water freezes, it expands. The ice then works as a wedge. It slowly widens the cracks and splits the rock. When ice melts, liquid water performs the act of erosion by carrying away the tiny rock fragments lost in the split. This specific process (the freeze-thaw cycle) is called frost weathering or cryofracturing. Figure 4.3 Frost Wedging Temperature changes can also contribute to mechanical weathering in a process called thermal stress. Changes in temperature cause rock to expand (with heat) and contract (with cold). As this happens over and over again. the structure of the rock weakens. Over time, it crumbles. Rocky desert landscapes are particularly vulnerable to thermal stress. The outer layer of desert rocks undergo repeated stress as the temperature changes from day Eventually, Lo outer night. layersflake off in thin sheets, a process called exfoliation. Exfoliation contributes to the formation of bornhardts, one of the most dramatic features in landscapes formed by weathering and erosion. Bornhardts are tall, domed, isolated rocks often found areas. in tropical Sugarloaf Mountain, an iconic landmark in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is bornhardt. a Salt also works to weather rock in a process called haloclasty. Saltwater sometimes gets into the cracks and pores of rock. If the saltwater evaporates, salt crystals are left behind. As the crystals grow, they put pressure on the rock, slowly breaking it apart. Plants and animals can be agents of mechanical weathering. The seed of a tree may sprout in soil that has collected in a cracked rock. As the roots grow, they widen the cracks, eventually breaking the rock into pieces. Over time, trees can break apart even large rocks. Even small plants, such as mosses, can enlarge tiny cracks as they grow. Animals that tunnel underground, such as moles and prairie dogs, also work to break apart rock and soil. Other animals dig and trample rock aboveground, causing rock to slowly crumble. Chemical Weathering Chemical weathering changes the molecular structure of rocks and soil.For instance, carbon dioxide from the air or soil sometimes combines with water in a process called carbonation. This produces a weak acid, called carbonic acid, that can dissolve rock. Carbonic acid is especially effective at dissolving limestone. When carbonic acid seeps through limestone underground, it can open up huge cracks or hollow out vast networks of caves. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, in the U.S. state of New Mexico, includes more than 119 limestone caves created by weathering and erosion. The largest is called the Big Room.. With an area of about 33,210 square meters (357,469 square feet), the Big Room is the size of six football fields. Another type of chemical weathering works on rocks that contain iron. These rocks turn to rust in a process called oxidation. Rust is a compound created by the interaction of oxygen and iron in the presence of water. As rust expands, it weakens rock and helps break it apart. Another familiar form of chemical weathering is hydrolysis. In the process of hydrolysis, a new solution (a mixture of two or more substances) is formed as chemicals in rock interact with water. In many rocks, for example, sodium minerals interact with water to form a saltwater solution. Hydration and hydrolysis contribute to flared slopes, another dramatic example of a landscape formed by weathering and erosion. Flared slopes are sometimes nicknamed "wave rocks." Their c-shape is largely concave rock formations a result of subsurface weathering, in which hydration and hydrolysis wear away rocks beneath the landscape's surfaceWeathering and People Weathering is a natural process, but human activities can speed it up. For example, certain kinds of air pollution increase the rate of weathering Burning coal, natural and petroleum releases chemicals such as nitrogen oxide and gas, sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. When these chemicals combine with sunlight and moisture, they change into acids. They then fall back to Earth as acid rain. Acid rain rapidly weathers limestone, marble, and other kinds of stone. The effects of acid rain can often be seen on gravestones, making names and other inscriptions impossible to read. Acid rain has also damaged many historic buildings and monuments. For example, at 71 meters (233 feet) tall, the Leshan Giant Buddha at Mount Emei, China is the world's largest statue of the Buddha. It was carved 1,300 years ago and sat unharmed for centuries. An innovative drainage system mitigates the natural process of erosion But in recent years, acid rain has turned the statue's nose black and made some of its hair crumble and fall.

LARGE CARBON MOLECULES Many carbon compounds are built up from smaller, simpler molecules known as monomers (MAH-ne-mers), such as the ones shown in Figure 3-3. As you can also see in Figure 3-3, monomers can bond to one another to form polymers (PAWL-eh-mer). A polymer is a molecule that consists of repeated, linked units. The units may be identical or structurally related to each other. Large polymers are called macromolecules. There are many types of macromolecules, such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Monomers link to form polymers through a chemical reaction called a condensation reaction. Each time a monomer is added to a polymer, a water molecule is released. In the condensation reac- tion shown in Figure 3-4, two sugar molecules, glucose and fruc- tose, combine to form the sugar sucrose, which is common table sugar. The two sugar monomers become linked by a C—O—C bridge. In the formation of that bridge, the glucose molecule releases a hydrogen ion, H, and the fructose molecule releases a hydroxide ion, OH. The OH and H ions that are released then combine to produce a water molecule, H2O. In addition to building polymers through condensation reac- tions, living organisms also have to break them down. The break- down of some complex molecules, such as polymers, occurs through a process known as hydrolysis (hie-DRAHL-i-sis). In a hydrolysis reaction, water is used to break down a polymer. The water molecule breaks the bond linking each monomer. Hydrolysis is the reverse of a condensation reaction. The addition of water to some complex molecules, including polymers, under certain con- ditions can break the bonds that hold them together. For example, in Figure 3-4 reversing the reaction will result in sucrose breaking down into fructose and glucose. 2H2O Monomers Polymer C C O H OH C OH H CH2OH C H CH2OH C HO H C O H C OH H C CH2OH H C H OH O Sucrose C C O H OH C OH H CH2OH C H CH2OH C HO H C OH OH H C OH H C CH2OH H C H OH O Glucose Fructose H2O The condensation reaction below shows how glucose links with fructose to form sucrose. One water molecule is produced each time two monomers form a covalent bond. FIGURE 3-4 monomer from the Greek mono, meaning “single or alone,” and meros, meaning “a part” Word Roots and Origins A polymer is the result of bonding between monomers. In this example, each monomer is a six-sided carbon ring. The starch in potatoes is an example of a molecule that is a polymer. FIGURE 3-3 Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. 54 CHAPTER 3 ENERGY CURRENCY Life processes require a constant supply of energy. This energy is available to cells in the form of certain compounds that store a large amount of energy in their overall structure. One of these com- pounds is adenosine (uh-DEN-uh-SEEN) triphosphate, more commonly referred to by its abbreviation, ATP. The left side of Figure 3-5 shows a simplified ATP molecule struc- ture. The 5-carbon sugar, ribose, is represented by the blue carbon ring. The nitrogen-containing compound, adenine, is represented by the 2 orange rings. The three linked phosphate groups, —PO4 , are represented by the blue circles with a “P.” The phospate groups are attached to each other by covalent bonds. The covalent bonds between the phosphate groups are more unstable than the other bonds in the ATP molecule because the phosphate groups are close together and have negative charges. Thus, the negative charges make the bonds easier to break. When a bond between the phosphate groups is broken, energy is released. This hydrolysis of ATP is used by the cell to provide the energy needed to drive the chemical reactions that enable an organism to function.

1 .Sand soil • Has course/ large particles • they are larger than those of clay • Loses water quickly • Has less organic matter • Has good aeration • Allows good root penetration • Leaching of nutrients is more in sand soil. • Does not stick when wet 2. Clay soil • Has very fine particles which are closely packed • The soil is sticky when wet and can be moulded into any shape • It holds more water than sand and loam • It has poor drainage • It cracks when dry • It has poor aeration • It does not allow good root penetration 2 .Loam soil • Is a mixture of sand and clay particles • It half clay half sand • It can be easily moulded into a shape but easily crumbles • Holds water for a longer time than sand • It sticks on the hands when wet • It has good drainage • It has good aeration • It allows good root penetration • Loam is the best soil Soil Fertility • When soil has enough plant nutrients it is fertile • Soil fertility is the presence of nutrients in the soil • A farmer can add nutrients to the soil to make it fertile • This is done by applying fertilizers and compost. • A fertiliser is a substance that is added to the soil to increase fertility • Nutrients found in the soil include Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium ( NPK ) • They are called major nutrients or macro nutrients because they are needed in large quantities Minor nutrients • Minor nutrients are needed in smaller quantities • Minor nutrients are also called micro nutrients or trace elements • Examples of minor nutrients are boron, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium and molybdenum Soil erosion • Is the washing away of top soil by agents such as Water Wind Animals Humans 1. Water: • Water washes away soil when it rains. • Loose soil is washed away into dams and rivers. • Steep slopes also lead to soil erosion. • Ploughing 2 . Wind • The blowing away of soil by wind causes soil erosion. • When people cut down trees wind erosion easily takes place. • Type of soil also leads to wind erosion. Which soil type is easily eroded by wind? 3 . Animals • Animal cause soil erosion by overgrazing. • Overgrazing is when animals eat plant or vegetation leaving the ground surface bare. • Animals walking on the same pathway for a long time make the soil loose. • Animals that live underground also burrow loosening the soil. • This makes soil break easily and get washed away. WATER WATER CONSERVATION Water • Water is important in agriculture • It is used to: Clean farm tools Mould bricks Wash milking equipment Cool machines Provide homes(habitat) for fish Give animals drinking and bathing water Sources of Water Natural sources 1. Natural rains: • rain water from the clouds is a primary source of water. • It is used to water crops such as maize, millet, sorghum and so on during the rainy season. • Rain water that collects into the rivers and dams is used by animals and people for drinking. 2 . Rivers : • Rivers are some of the major sources of water for different activities such as fishing, boat cruising and irrigation. 3 . Streams : • A stream is a small river. • Streams supply water for irrigating garden crops especially in rural areas. • They are also a source of water for animals to drink and bath. Sources of Water 4 . Springs : • Springs are usually found on hilly areas. • They result from pressure of underground streams. • The pressure forces water underground to form a channel to the surface of the soil and flow above the ground. Sources of Water Man made sources Man discovered that water for agriculture was not enough during the rain and cool dry seasons. They decided to make structures which would harvest or collect and store water for future use. 1.Protected well: • Wells are dug in the ground by hand. • They are often lined with bricks and concrete so that they do not cave in. • Protected wells are covered, therefore are safe to drink from. 2 . borehole : • They are deep holes made by drilling machines. • Drilling can be done up to 70 metres deep. • Water is pumped using an electric pump or hand pump. Sources of Water 3 . Dams : • A dam is a large wall or barrier built to hold water to save it for future use. 4 . Weir : • A weir is made by construction a cement brick wall or concrete wall across a river to trap water and eroded soil. • water flows over the wall when the river is inflood. 5 .Water tank : • Is a temporary manmade water source. • Water from a water tank is usually harvested from roof tops or it works along a borehole or protected well as temporary storage. • Water is pumped from the borehole or protected well into the water tank. 6 . reservoir : • A large natural or manmade lake used as a source of water. PLANTS Uses of plants • Fibre for making clothes • Oil for cooking, making paint and chemicals • Sugar for tea • Wood for timber • Refreshing drinks and alcohol • Food for people and animals • Protect the soil from erosion • Plants supply us with fresh oxygen for breathing. • Some plant parts are used as medicine.

Flavonoids and nitrogen compounds and the role of alternative medicine

Peas  Peas are one of the most important vegetables Zimbabweans can grow for export.  They are legumes  Legumes fix Nitrogen  IMPORTANCE OF PEAS  Peas have a lot of health benefits for human consumption.  They can be eaten raw or added to a variety of dishes  Peas have vitamins and antioxidants.  They are good for heart performance.  They are good for dealing with high blood pressure.  They have a very high protein content VARIETIES  Some of the common varieties to grow are Snowbird, Sabre, Serge, Alaska, Greenfeast and Recruit  Varieties are also called cultivars FAVOURABLE CLIMATE  Peas prefer cold conditions to grow well.  Temperatures of 22 degrees or below (starting at 13 degrees Celsius) are the best for peas farming.  The best temperature is 22 degrees Celsius.  Extremely hot temperatures will lead to lack of growth or hard pods. SOIL REQUIREMENTS  Soil should be fertile.  The soil should have good drainage.  Soil pH must be in the range of 6 to 7.5.  The best soil type is sandy loam – clay soils can also cut it  The soil should be deep LAND PREPARATION  Land preparation includes the following  Dig or plough to aerate the soil and improve drainage  Harrow to break the clods (big lumps)  Make ridges to keep water within the bed  level the bed to ensure equal water distribution SOWING AND PLANTING  Seeds must be sown about 2 to 3 centimeters into the ground  The germination process takes place within at most 1 week.  When sowing seeds, the in-row spacing should be 5 – 10 centimeters whereas the inter-row spacing should be 25 centimeters. Management Practices  Watering is necessary but does not overdo it – water depending on the state of the pea plants.  Generally, peas do not require lots of water.  WEEDING - Weeding should be done occasionally as informed by the state of the field.  MULCHING – to conserve soil moisture  PEST CONTROL – to protect crops from damage  DISEASE CONTROL – to protect crops from damage  TRELLISING – to support indeterminate varieties PEST, DISEASE AND WEED CONTROL  Aphids, beetles, leaf weevils, nematodes, and leaf miners are some of the common pests to look out for.  Powdery and Downey mildew, fusarium wilt are some of the common diseases to look out for.  As much as you can use chemical methods to deal with pests, diseases and weeds you can still use biological and cultural control methods.  Most of the pests and diseases that affect peas can be dealt with by usingcultural methods like weed control.  getting rid of affected plants and plant debris can control pest and diseases control.

Related quizzes

Related quizzes